Marengo City Council is set to vote on the appointment of Jim Culotta as the temporary city administrator at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Culotta would take over for Josh Blakemore, who left Marengo to become city administrator in Plainfield starting Monday. Culotta is a contractor who would be hired through GovTemp USA to temporarily oversee administrative duties for the city of about 7,500 people.

His contract would run until March 4, with possible two-week extensions through June if needed, according to city documents. Culotta said his main focus in the new role would be to keep the city’s operations going.

“Next month we’re going to begin the budget process for the coming fiscal years, so I’m looking forward to being a part of that,” he said.

Culotta previously held city administrator or assistant positions in Shorewood, Barrington and Washington, a town near Peoria.

Blakemore leaves Marengo after 16 years with the city where he was city administrator for the last four.

“He will be missed and will be a great asset to Plainfield,” Marengo Mayor John Koziol said. “It was tough to see him go as he was my first choice to help me lead Marengo when I first got elected.”

The city plans to find a new full-time administrator as soon as possible, Koziol said. They will be accepting applications for the job through Friday.

“We have to move on and will take this opportunity to build on the successes we have had over the last several years,” Koziol said.

Marengo’s city administrator position earns a salary between $115,000 and $140,000, according to the city’s job posting. The city is looking for a new administrator who will take the lead on projects including the distribution of federal American Rescue Plan funds, guiding development of the Interstate 90-Route 23 corridor, and can help attract new employees and retain current workers.